Windshield wiping system

In a windshield wiper system which includes a plurality of windshield wiper arms, each of said wiper arms supporting at least one windshield wiper blade, a drive motor for moving said arms and a plurality of linkage arms coupling said wiper arms to said drive motor;

• charactered in that at least one of said plurality of linkage arms comprises a flexible arm, said flexible arm being a one-piece construction and bending to facilitate preventing damage to components in said wiper system when a compressive load applied to said at least one of said plurality of linkage arms exceeds a predetermined load as a result of a fatigue condition;
• said flexible arm remaining substantially rigid when said compressive load is less than said predetermined load and flexing after said compressive load equals or exceeds said predetermined load;
• said flexible arm returning to said substantially rigid condition when said compressive load again becomes less than said predetermined load:
• and
• said flexible arm comprises a first end and a second end, said first and second ends are each over-molded with a connector, said ends comprising at least one shear groove such for enabling said connector to separate from said first or second end if said compressive force exceeds a maximum load for said flexible arm.

A wiper system comprising:

• a first wiper;
• a second wiper;
• a windshield wiper drive linkage coupled to said first and second wipers;
• a drive motor coupled to said windshield wiper drive linkage;
• and
• said windshield wiper drive linkage comprising:
• a plurality of linkage arms coupled to said first and second wipers and said drive motor;
• at least one of said plurality of linkage arms comprising a flexible arm of a one-piece construction which is substantially rigid during normal operation and which bends to facilitate preventing damage to components in said wiper system when a compressive load applied to said at least one of said plurality of linkage arms exceeds a predetermined load as a result of a fatigue condition;
• wherein said flexible arm comprises a composite material and a distance between ends of said flexible arm, wherein said distance shortens after said compressive load exceeds said predetermined load and said flexible arm returns to said substantially rigid condition after said compressive load becomes less than or equal to said predetermined load.

A wiper system comprising;

• a first wiper;
• a second wiper;
• a windshield wiper drive linkage coupled to said first and second wipers;
• a drive motor coupled to said windshield wiper drive linkage;
• and
• said windshield wiper drive linkage comprising;
• a plurality of linkage arms coupled to said first and second wipers and said drive motor;
• at least one of said plurality of linkage arms comprising a flexible arm which is substantially rigid during normal operation and which bends to facilitate preventing damage to components in said wiper system when a compressive load applied to said at least one of said plurality of linkage arms exceeds a predetermined load as a result of a fatigue condition;
• wherein said flexible arm shortens after said compressive load exceeds said predetermined load and said flexible arm returns to said substantially rigid condition after said compressive load becomes less than or equal to said predetermined load;
• and wherein
• said flexible arm comprises a first end and a second end, said first and second ends are each over-molded with a connector, said ends comprising at least one shear groove such for enabling said connector to separate from said first or second end if said compressive force exceeds a maximum for said flexible arm.